As of July 14, 2026, United Airlines announced a new seating layout for Economy Plus with extra space on the Airbus A321XLR. The seating layout for both international and domestic flights features one row that replaces a middle seat with a non-removable tray table. According to United Airlines’ Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, the newest XLR aircraft “not only offers all-aisle lie-flat seats in United Polaris, but now also includes seats in Economy Plus with extra leg and elbow room”.
A321XLR Features and Seating Options
The A321XLR will now have 32 premium seats, 16 more than the Boeing 757 it is replacing. The aircraft will provide privacy doors for United Polaris suites along with a large 4K OLED screen and Bluetooth connectivity for all seating types. Larger overhead luggage bins and a self-serve snack bar at the back of the economy class will also be available to all passengers.
The A321XLR offers multiple seating options: United Polaris, Premium Plus, the New Economy Plus seating option, Economy Plus, Preferred Seating, and United Economy.
When Will This Be Available?
United Airlines plans to launch the A321XLR domestically in the fall and internationally by the start of early 2027. The airline has not yet disclosed the cost of the seats but plans to share more information later this year.
Is This Seating Option Worth It?
The new Economy Plus seating option is highly controversial. To many, this seat is a welcome addition because of the added benefit of not having a middle seat neighbor. Since this seat is only in one row of the entire plane, many believe that it is a harmless change that only provides more flexibility for those interested in improved economy seating. However, others argue that this is a blatant attempt at increasing profits. If this seating arrangement is successful, United will likely expand this option, allowing airlines to raise the costs of economy seating.